Elliott - Chapter 8/8
Three Years Later
Buffy opened her eyes as Giles slipped under the covers and pulled her close to him. “Everything okay?”
“Mm-hm…” He murmured, kissing her shoulder. “Marcus wanted to sleep in Elliott’s room.”
“Was Elliott okay with that?” She asked, closing her eyes again as his mouth moved slowly towards her neck.
“Yes…” He whispered, flicking his tongue against her skin.
“Marcus would probably move in there if given the chance.”
Giles pulled back and bit back his sigh. After a beat, Buffy turned towards him…confusion in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re not into this now. You were…before I went to check on Marcus. I think I should be asking you what’s wrong.”
“What?” She asked, placing her hand on his chest. “You know I want you.”
He nodded slowly. “But, just not right now. Are you okay?”
“Because I’m suddenly not all horny, there must be something wrong with me?” She snapped.
His eyes widened slightly. “No. Because you were rather amorous before I left…and then less than fifteen minutes later, you are very much the antithesis of amorous…I’m concerned that you’re not feeling well or something is wrong. Don’t turn this into something it’s not, Buffy.”
“So now I’m picking a fight?” She sat up and stared at him.
His first thought was to confirm that question for her, but he quelled that reaction quickly. He sat up next to her and looked into her eyes.
“What’s wrong, love?”
When she merely continued staring at him, he sighed and scratched the back of his head. “There are some things that I need to go through that Charmichael sent earlier. I, uh…I’ll go take care of that…”
“So…you’re walking away?” She asked in a frustrated tone as he climbed out of bed.
He slipped his t-shirt back on and shook his head. “No, Buffy. I’m going into the living room and giving you the time you need…because I don’t want this to end up in a yelling match when I’m not even sure what’s going on.” He offered her a gentle, confused smile. “I love you.”
“Come back to bed.”
He tilted his head slightly. “I’m not making love with you when it’s not what you want, Buffy.”
“Rupert…”
“There’s nothing wrong with not being in the mood. I’m just confused about the quick 180 we took…I’m not angry or frustrated. I’m just confused. I’ll be back in a little while…just taking a breather and working through some information that Charmichael needs an opinion on.”
“I love you.” She whispered.
He gave her a genuine smile and opened the door. “I never thought you didn’t.”
She exhaled shakily as he left the room and closed the door behind him.
* * *
Giles looked up from the papers strewn about the table, his pen held between his teeth. Buffy walked into the room, her arms crossed over her chest, and stood near the fireplace. He pulled the pen from his mouth and smiled softly.
“Hey…”
“Hey.” She replied with a small smile of her own. “So, about earlier…”
“My intention wasn’t to insinuate anything was wrong with you.” He offered, placing the pen on a stack of papers and standing up.
“I think I might be pregnant.”
“What?”
She walked over towards him and exhaled deeply as she sat down on the table where there were no papers. “I think I might be pregnant.”
“Yes, I heard you…I just…I wasn’t expecting it this soon.”
She nodded in agreement as he moved to stand in front of her. “Me neither.”
He regarded her carefully for a moment and then lifted his hand to the side of her face. “It’s not unexpected completely though. I mean, it’s not as if we’ve been trying to not have a baby.”
She narrowed her eyes at him as she ran that last statement through her mind. “Could you have said that in a more confusing way?”
He chuckled softly. “I’m sure I could have. My point is…we’ve talked about it, neither of us are using any type of birth control…it was bound to happen. Another baby is definitely wanted.”
“I haven’t taken a test yet.” She turned her head slightly and kissed his palm. “I was just sitting in there wondering what was wrong with me - ”
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Buffy. I was just confused.”
“And you had every right to be. Because I threw out some really fucked up mixed signals.” She looked up at him and shrugged a shoulder. “The last time I remember being that hot and cold about things was when I was pregnant with Marcus. The thing is…even though my words and actions said one thing, I really still wanted you. And that really confused me too.”
She closed her eyes briefly as his hand moved to rest on her shoulder. “I didn’t want you to leave, you know…”
He nodded slowly, stepping in between her thighs. “But, I couldn’t make love with you if you weren’t sure that’s what you wanted. You understand that, yes?”
“Yeah…” She looked up at him as she curled her right leg around the back of his thigh. “What if I’m sure now?”
“Are you?” He whispered, his thumb rubbing over her collarbone.
“Yeah. Yeah, I really really am.” She whimpered softly, her fingers effortlessly pulling the button of his jeans free. “I want you.”
He covered her hands with his, stilling her movement. “Not here, love.”
She smiled, remembering a time a few months earlier…when they were in a very similar situation - and their younger son ran into the room. “Then I suggest we go back to the bedroom…because if you’re not inside of me soon…”
He grinned and picked her up, sighing as she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Another baby, then?”
“Hopefully so. Probably so.” She leaned into him and kissed his lips. “I’ll take a test later…I want to do other things right now, okay?”
“We should think about adding a couple of rooms to the house…or maybe moving to a bigger house?” He pondered aloud while carrying her down the hall to their room.
She shook her head, her fingers toying with a curl of his hair at the nape of his neck. “I really don’t want to leave this house. So many memories here.”
“Mm…good and bad…” He said softly, closing the bedroom and gently placing her on the bed.
“The good outweighs the bad. Even with Elliott getting sick and…”
He looked at her as she trailed off. When he saw the tears in her eyes, he knew that what they had planned just moments earlier was suddenly pushed to the side. He climbed onto the bed next to her and pulled her into his arms.
“Dying.” He finished for her in a soft tone.
“Yeah…” She sniffled and wrapped her arms around him.
Two months earlier, they had taken him into the hospital with a third bout of jaundice. They had expected a blocked bile duct…that had happened twice before. They had expected them to take him up for a CT scan.
They hadn’t expected Dr Naylor to walk in with the results a short time later.
But, when he walked into the room…Giles felt an impending sense of doom. And then he felt the earth shift beneath him when his son’s oncologist said that the bile duct blockage was caused by a mass. A new mass.
And moments later, he had been rushed into the theatre.
The prognosis wasn’t good. In fact, he had been given less than twelve months.
After fighting so hard for the last three and a bit years…and, for the most part, keeping at least one step ahead of the cancer…for the first time, things looked bleak. And to have a time frame attached to his son’s life was sobering and devastating.
Feeling Buffy shift in his arms, he shook his head gently to clear his thoughts. He kissed her softly and laid down with her, letting his hand rest over her abdomen. She covered his hand with hers and met his eyes.
“Giles…”
She barely got his name out before the tears began. He gathered her against his chest, whispering words of love and understanding. She sobbed uncontrollably, her grief hitting her in waves. He closed his eyes, continuing to whisper…to help her through the onslaught.
* * *
Buffy woke to find herself still wrapped up in Giles’ arms. She pulled back just enough to look at him, not surprised to find him asleep. She shifted slightly, pressing a kiss to his chin…then his jaw…then his cheek…and finally his lips.
It took only a moment for him to begin to respond, parting his lips under hers as his hands began to wander aimlessly. He moaned softly and rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him.
“What time is it?” He asked hoarsely as she moved her mouth to his neck.
“Dunno.” She murmured against his skin. “Still dark…”
His hands moved to her hips as she ground against his burgeoning erection. “Buffy…are you sure…”
“I need you inside of me now.” She whispered thickly, pushing herself up and pulling her nightshirt up over her head.
“Dear lord…” He mumbled, lifting himself up enough to capture her left nipple with his lips.
“Oh, that’s cute…”
“Mm?”
“The way your eyes light up…even though you’ve seen them more times than I can count.” She closed her eyes as his mouth kissed its way to her right nipple.
She gasped as he pulled the hardened nub into his mouth and he smiled against her skin. He sucked deeply for a moment and then let it go, looking up at her as he fell back to the mattress.
“Oh, that’s cute…”
“Huh?” She asked as she hooked her fingers into the waistband of his pajama bottoms.
“The way you gasp like you’ve never felt my tongue against your nipples before.”
She grinned and then placed her hand on the side of his neck as she leaned down, capturing his mouth a passionate kiss. He responded immediately, slipping his tongue into her mouth as his hands tightened on her hips…pressing her tighter against his erection.
She moved her mouth to his throat, relishing the sensation of his groan vibrating against her teeth as she lightly bit him. She bit again, this time on his collarbone, and he moaned her name softly.
As he rolled her onto her back and ran his left hand between her thighs, she shook her head and stared into his eyes. “Fuck the foreplay, Rupert…”
“What?” He asked, even as he repositioned himself until he was resting between her thighs.
“You know how I said I need you inside of me now? That’s exactly what I mean. Now…not later.” She said quickly, nearly breathlessly, as she pushed his pajamas over his hips.
He bit his lip as she curled her hand around the shaft of his erection. “Fuck…”
She nodded as she moved underneath him, resting her knees against his sides. “Yeah…”
He supported his weight on his right hand as he used his left to guide the head of his cock through her wet folds. “How do you want this?”
“Make me come, Rupert.” She whimpered, arching her hips towards him.
He smiled and entered her, inhaling deeply as he hooked his arm under her knee. “Jesus, Buffy…”
She bit her lip, effectively stifling her moan as he thrust into her at a slow pace. Of all of the sexual partners she had ever had, Giles had been the only one to understand that the quickest way to make her come was to go slow. She had mentioned that to him one time, years ago…he had merely smiled, kissed her, and stated that he watches, listens, pays attention - and when you do those things, the answers are clear as crystal.
He built her up quickly with a nearly maddeningly slow pace. He pushed his upper body up, giving him the opportunity to watch her skin flush with arousal as she trembled beneath him. He smiled as he watched her, beads of sweat rolling towards the hollow of her throat…her teeth biting her lip so hard that a drop of blood appeared.
He leaned down and kissed her, inhaling sharply as her nails dug into his shoulders. He felt her inner walls quiver around him as he pushed his tongue into her mouth. He swallowed her moans as she suddenly came, her warm fluids rushing over his thrusting cock.
Then, and only then, did he increase his pace. Within moments, he buried his face in the crook of her neck and cried out her name as he came deep within her.
Her hands held him tightly to her as he rolled onto his side facing her. He brushed her sweat-dampened hair back from her face and kissed her again, slowly and deeply. When they eventually ended the kiss, she lifted a still-trembling hand to the side of his face.
“Sorry about earlier.”
He furrowed his brow. “Hm?”
“Being all super emotional…then crying myself to sleep in your arms. That was a bit - ”
“Understandable.” He interjected, gently stroking her hip. “Love…we are in a very emotional point of our lives. Things are quickly becoming…difficult.”
“Yeah…” She whispered sadly.
He rolled onto his back, curling his arm around her. He stared at the ceiling…she rested her head on his shoulder as she ran her fingertips along his sternum. They were quiet for a few moments and then she sighed heavily.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, turning his head towards her.
“I have to go to the bathroom…”
He chuckled softly and glanced towards the window. “And I need to get redressed…sun’s on it’s way.”
“Which means…our son’s on his way soon.”
He placed a tender kiss on her lips and lightly tapped her hip with his fingers. “Go on…”
“I love you, Giles.”
He smiled brightly at her. “I love you, Buffy.”
He watched her leave the bedroom, closing the door behind her. And then his smile faded as he sighed.
“Difficult, indeed.” He murmured to himself, before reaching for his discarded pajama bottoms.
* * *
He was sitting up in bed reading a book when she came back into the room. He looked up and smiled, tilting his head curiously at the expression on her face.
“What is it, love?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. Then merely sat next to him and handed him an object that she had brought in with her.
He placed the book on the bedside table and nodded slowly. “Ah…”
He looked at the pregnancy test in his hand and then looked back up at her. She had intentionally given it to him result side down.
“Have you looked at it?”
She shook her head and bit her lip nervously. “No…I think I wanted us to find out together this time.”
He smiled and pushed the covers off of him, then pulled her between his legs…her back resting against his chest. He placed a kiss on her shoulder and took a deep breath.
“Tell me when you’re ready.”
She hesitated for a moment and then swallowed, lowering her eyes to his hand. “Okay…”
“Okay?”
She nodded quickly. “Yeah, flip it…”
He turned the test over and they both stared at it. Then she turned her head to look at him.
“You okay with this?”
He smiled as he nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely.”
She returned his smile with a bright one of her own. “Good, ‘cause I am too.”
He kissed her warmly as his hand moved to her abdomen. Just as she was beginning to turn her body towards him, with the intention of straddling him, the bedroom door flung open. She broke the kiss and they shared a knowing grin as Marcus jumped up onto their bed.
“Hiya Daddy! Hiya Mummy!”
“Ah, Marky-Mark…” Buffy replied playfully.
Giles shook his head in reaction to the nickname, but laughed all the same. “Good morning, Marcus.”
Marcus sat on his knees and grinned brightly. “Watch!”
He waved his hands in the air with an exaggerated flourish. “Shaykah-baykah!”
He narrowed his eyes in a very Gilesean way and shook his head. “Dint work.”
“Mm…no, it didn’t, son.” Giles chuckled. “I think you meant this…”
Giles gave a simple flourish of his left hand. “Shahklah-blahkahm…”
Marcus giggled and clapped his hands as a harmless and colorful light show played over their heads. Buffy arched an eyebrow at Giles. Giles shrugged a shoulder.
“Has Uncle Ethan been teaching you some things?” He asked, reaching over to run his fingers through Marcus’ light brown hair.
Marcus shook his head. “Nope. Ello teached.”
“Elliott taught you, did he?” Giles asked in an amused tone. “Elliott must be getting private lessons then…because I didn’t teach him this.”
“What is this?” Buffy asked.
Giles scooped Marcus up onto his lap as he leaned back against the headboard, watching the lights swirl above them. “Ethan conjured this one time…many years ago. We would spend hours watching it…” He glanced over at Buffy and gave her a wink. “It’s much more spectacular when other things are involved…”
Buffy laughed softly, understanding his meaning. She leaned over and kissed the top of Marcus’ head. “Is Elliott awake?”
“Nah…he snoring.” Marcus replied, reaching up to poke at a swirl of orange light.
Buffy checked the clock and caught Giles’ eyes. “I’ll go get his meds ready.”
“We’ll be out soon and get breakfast started. Won’t we, Marcus?”
“Mm-hm. Pamcakes.”
“Pancakes…why am I not surprised.” Giles mumbled happily.
* * *
“Hey, Marco…”
Marcus turned around quickly and jumped down from the stool. He ran over and lifted his arms up towards his brother.
“Ello!!!”
Elliott picked the boy up and cuddled him in his arms. “Hey, thank you for staying with me last night.”
Marcus giggled playfully and then pointed towards the stove. “Me and Daddy making pamcakes.”
“Ah…my favourite. With blueberries?”
“Yep!” He wriggled in Elliott’s arms in an effort to get back down.
Elliott smiled and gently lowered him, grimacing when he stood back up. Giles narrowed his eyes slightly.
“You alright?”
“Yeah, Dad…just a little twinge. I’m fine.” He walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out the orange juice. “My eyes are almost back to normal. Just a little yellow now…”
“I noticed that last night.” Giles replied with a smile as he watched Elliott pour two glasses of juice and hand one to Marcus. “I also noticed that you’ve grown a little. Does your leg need replacing?”
Elliott shook his head and walked over to stand next to Giles, plucking a blueberry out of the punnet. “Not yet.”
“Well, keep an eye on it. I’d hate for you to have hip issues because of a short leg.”
Elliott swallowed the blueberry and took a few more. “No need to waste money on that right now, Dad.”
Giles stared at him. “It’s not a waste of money, Elliott. If you outgrow your leg, you need a new one.”
“I’m just saying - ”
Giles placed his hand on top of Marcus’ head as he shook his head at Elliott. “I know what you’re saying, son. But, no matter the situation…if you need a new leg, you’ll have a new leg. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Elliott nodded slowly. “Yeah. Yeah, I get it, Dad.”
Marcus suddenly ran out of the room, causing Elliott to chuckle. He looked around and furrowed his brow. “Where’s Mum?”
“In the shower.” He replied quickly, turning back to the pancakes. “Is Jack coming over today?”
“Yeah.” Elliott finished his juice and walked over to the sink to rinse the glass.
“And Gemma?”
Elliott smiled as he turned to face his father. “Yes…and Gemma. You were right, is that what you want to hear?”
“No…well, yes actually.”
“Seems like me pushing her away works about as well as you pushing Mum away.” He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “In that…it doesn’t work.”
“I didn’t try to push Buffy away, Elliott.”
“No, you just did that bottling up thing that you’re so good at it…”
“Obviously not as good as I used to be.” Giles replied with a soft smile. “What are you guys getting up to today?”
“Picnic at the river…movie in town after.” He laughed when Giles furrowed his brow. “Gem’s dad is driving us.”
“As long as you’re up for it and you’re careful…”
Elliott nodded and gestured towards a backpack resting near the back door. “I’ve already got a bag packed. All my meds are in there…and the folding crutches, just in case.”
“All of your meds?”
Elliott sighed deeply. “Dad…I don’t like the oral morph. It makes me feel really weird.”
“I know, but it’s the only thing that’s really gotten on top of your pain. So, please…take it with you. Just in case.”
Elliott thought for a moment and then went over to the cupboard above the microwave. He pulled out the bottle and exhaled a deep breath. “Okay…I’ll take it. Just in case.”
“Thank you.”
Elliott put the bottle into his bag and then placed the bag on the island. “Pancakes almost done? They’ll be here in about half an hour.”
Giles smiled and put three on a plate for him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Buffy held the picture in her hand, staring at it in disbelief. Eleven weeks? She’d gone in to have a blood test to confirm pregnancy…and left with a ultrasound picture of a eleven week old fetus.
The doctor had asked her a fairly simple question. What was the date of her last period? It was a question that she couldn’t answer…and when she thought about it, the last one she could actually remember was before Elliott came down with jaundice the last time.
The doctor had looked at her curiously, openly wondering why she hadn’t thought to get tested sooner. He had understood when she simply said that her 16 year old son had terminal cancer and she had a 2 and a half year old son who was…a typical 2 and a half year old. There was so much going on that she hadn’t even given it a second thought…or a first thought, for that matter.
And so, the doctor suggested they do an ultrasound…just to see if they could see anything.
She definitely hadn’t expected to see such a beautiful profile show up immediately on the screen.
She ran her finger lightly over the baby’s nose and smiled.
* * *
“Where is everyone?” Ethan asked, accepting the proffered beer.
Giles sat down heavily on the sofa and rested his bottle on his thigh. “Buffy’s at a doctor’s appointment, Elliott is out with Gemma and Jack, and Marcus…is taking a nap.”
Ethan narrowed his eyes. “A doctor’s appointment on a Saturday? Is she okay?”
Giles took a long sip from the beer and nodded. “Mm-hm…just needed to get something checked. And hey…have you been teaching Elliott magick?”
“Um…huh? What?”
Giles rolled his eyes. “Shahklah-blahkahm?”
“He wanted something to show Marcus. It seemed fairly harmless. Did he tell you about it?”
“No, Marcus did. When he tried to conjure them up for me and Buffy.” He hesitated, watching the panic flit in Ethan’s eyes…and then he grinned. “As beautiful as it is, it’s moreso when you’re stoned.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Ethan said, raising his bottle.
“You’ll drink to anything.” Buffy said with a laugh as she walked into the living room.
“Accurate.” Ethan replied with a grin. “How are you?”
“More pregnant than I was expecting to be.”
Ethan’s eyes widened in surprise as he choked on a mouthful of beer. Giles looked at her curiously as she sat down next to him.
“More? As in…more than one?”
“Oh god no!” She laughed, handing him the picture. “More as in…further along.”
Giles looked down at the picture, his mouth dropping open. “Dear lord…”
“Mm…eleven weeks.”
Ethan stared at her. “How did you not know you’re pregnant?”
“Oh, I don’t know…maybe the fact that Elliott was in the hospital and Marcus is amazingly active? I kinda had my mind on other things…”
Ethan closed his eyes briefly and nodded. “Of course, I didn’t mean…”
“I know.” She interrupted softly.
He smiled at her, the warmth of his smile showing in his dark eyes. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She said, returning his smile as she leaned against Giles’ arm. She returned her attention to Giles, her smile growing as she watched him trace the baby’s image with his index finger. “Beautiful, huh?”
“Absolutely.”
Buffy tilted her head slightly, as if she were listening for something. “Where’s Marcus?”
“Oh…nap. He spent most of the morning playing football with Elliott and Jack before they went out. He was exhausted.”
“How long has he been down?”
Giles glanced at the clock. “About 45 minutes or so.”
“We’ve got at least an hour…”
Ethan grinned. “Should I leave?”
Buffy and Giles both rolled their eyes in unison. Ethan laughed heartily and took another drink of his beer.
“Just checking, mate.” He said to Giles. “I know you two don’t get heaps of alone time these days.”
“We get enough.”
Buffy smiled at Giles’ response. Ethan snorted and gestured towards the picture in Giles’ hand.
“Obviously…”
Giles was getting ready to give a decent retort when Elliott, Gemma, and Jack walked into the room. He narrowed his eyes when he realised that Elliott was using the crutches he had taken with him.
Elliott sighed heavily. “So…I broke my leg.”
Jack held up the shattered prosthetic with a shy smile.
Ethan’s eyes widened. “Holy shit…”
“What the hell happened?” Buffy asked, jumping up and quickly walking over to him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He sighed again as Buffy checked him over. “Mum…”
Gemma smiled, gently running her hand over Elliott’s back. “He slipped on a rock…I promise, he’s okay. We totally checked him out.”
Giles stood up, placing the picture face down on the lamp table. “Slipped on a rock?”
“We were crossing the river and…” Elliott lifted his hand when he saw the look in his father’s eyes. “Wait, Dad…calm down. It was my idea…and I’m fine.”
“Elliott…you can’t just - ”
“I can’t just do nothing and sit around and wait to die.” Elliott interrupted, frustration showing in his eyes and in his tone. “I know I have limitations, but I can cross a damn river!”
Giles stared at him. Buffy shook her head slowly. Ethan darted his eyes between the two. Jack placed the broken leg on the sofa next to Ethan. Gemma exhaled deeply.
“That wasn’t fair, Elliott.” She said softly. “Your Dad is concerned…and he has every right to be.”
Elliott bit his lip and then broke the mutual stare he was sharing with his father. “I’m sorry, Dad. I just…I just want to be normal.”
“You are normal, Elliott. You just have to be careful. The meds you’re on…”
“I know.” He whispered, reaching over to take hold of Gemma’s hand. “I feel like I have a lot of things I need to do…and I feel like I don’t have a lot of time to do them. So…make the most of what I have and to hell with the consequences. You know?”
“Yeah, I know.” Giles answered softly. “But, not at the detriment of your health. Yes?”
Elliott nodded silently. “So, I guess we do need to replace my leg after all.”
Giles chuckled and walked over, gently pulling him into a hug. “I’ll make an appointment.”
“Thanks.”
Giles looked at Gemma and smiled warmly. “Thank you, Gemma. Is your father outside?”
“Oh, yeah…”
“Stay for awhile…I’ll drive you two home later.”
Gemma’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Mr Giles.”
“Yeah, thanks Pop.” Jack chimed in playfully.
“I’m not sure what’s worse…‘Pop’ or ‘G-Man’…” Giles said with a laugh as he gestured towards the hall. “Go on…”
Jack smiled at Gemma. “Go on with him, I’ll go tell your Dad that Mr Giles will take us home later.”
As they walked down the hall, Jack turned his eyes to Giles. “He really was okay, Mr Giles. I know it’s hard…but, I promise it was just a slip. He didn’t even fall in the water.”
“Jack…”
“He’s my best friend…my non-bio brother. I don’t want that to end anytime soon.” He sighed heavily and glanced down the hall. “Well, not any sooner than it’s going to anyway.”
Before anyone could say anything else, Jack gave a small smile and gestured towards the door. “I’d better go let Gem’s dad know what’s going on.”
After he had run out the front door, Ethan shook his head and heaved a deep sigh. Buffy and Giles both looked at him expectantly. Ethan shrugged a shoulder.
“Those two are going to be quite a bit lost when the time comes.”
“Aren’t we all?” Giles murmured to no one in particular.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“So what’s the deal?” Elliott asked as Giles sat down with a mug of tea in his hand.
“Hm?”
Elliott glanced at Buffy, who was currently reading a book to Marcus, and then looked back at Giles. “You two…you’re both acting weird. Weirder than usual.”
Giles arched an eyebrow, taking a sip of his tea. “Weirder than usual? You think we’re weird?”
Elliott stared at him and then chuckled. “Of course I do. You’re my parents…I’m supposed to think you’re weird.”
Giles looked at Buffy, silently asking her a question. She gave him a subtle nod and glanced at the picture resting face down on the lamp table. Giles sighed heavily and placed his mug on the coffee table. Clearing his throat, he picked up the picture and then looked at Elliott.
“We, uh…found something out today. A bit of a surprise, really. But, I think it’s a good one.”
He handed the picture to Elliott, who took it and stared at it. Then he slowly looked up, darting his eyes between his parents.
“This…is a baby. You’re having a baby?”
Buffy nodded, placing a soft kiss on the top of Marcus’ head. “Yeah…”
Elliott refocused on the picture and narrowed his eyes. “This looks nothing like the picture you showed me when you told me you were pregnant with Marcus. I couldn’t see anything in that picture. This one looks like a baby…”
“I’m nearly three months.”
Confusion shone in his eyes as he looked back up. “But…you just found out today?”
“Yeah…apparently I missed a few early signs.”
Elliott’s eyes dropped to Marcus who was grinning at him. “I need to be more careful.”
Giles furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”
“I do stupid things…to prove I still can. And the thing is…you were right, Dad. The doctors have told me what’s coming…two months ago, they said maybe twelve months. That leaves me with ten…and you have a baby coming in six, Marcus is turning three in seven. If I’m doing stupid shit, I won’t be here for any of it. And…I really want to be here for all of it.”
Giles stared at him through glistening eyes and inhaled shakily. “I wouldn’t say you’re doing stupid things, Elliott. You’re sixteen years old. You’re engaging in normal behaviour…”
“Listen to him, Ellie.” Buffy interjected softly, smiling as Marcus slid from her lap. “He knows all about stupid behaviour.”
“I’m going to miss so much.” Elliott said softly, nearly inaudibly, as Marcus crawled up onto the sofa and into Elliott’s lap.
Buffy shook her head, swallowing the sudden lump in her throat. “That timeframe isn’t set in stone, Elliott. It’s an estimation. Anything could happen.”
Elliott wiped a tear that slipped from the corner of his eye. Giles shifted quickly, wrapping his arm around Elliott as Buffy moved to sit on the other side of their son.
“Anything can happen, Elliott.” Buffy repeated firmly. “Anything.”
Elliott nodded, wrapping his arms tightly around Marcus. “But, the only thing that can change at this point is the amount of time. The end result is going to be the same and I’m not ready to let go.”
He wiped his face on his shoulder and smiled as he did his best to compose himself. “A new baby is awesome news. Really.” He gently tickled Marcus’ ribs. “Hey, Marco…we’re both going to be big brothers now.”
Marcus looked up at him and grinned. Giles reached behind Elliott’s back and took hold of Buffy’s hand. Buffy met his eyes and gave him a gentle smile. Giles returned the smile as he lovingly ran his thumb along the back of her hand.
They all knew that the coming months were going to be difficult, but they were also very determined to not allow the prognosis to completely take over their lives. Things needed to be altered, but they were still the same family they’d always been.
A family that refuses to give up…even when the odds are stacked against them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Three Months Later…
Elliott sat in a slightly sunny spot on the hill overlooking the courtyard where the latest round of Watcher proficiency exams were taking place. He sighed softly as Gemma sat down next to him, gently nudging him with her shoulder.
“You okay?”
He was quiet for a moment and then nodded. “Yeah. I was just thinking that it wasn’t like this when Dad was my age - he did all of this, made all of these changes to make things better for everyone…Watchers, Slayers, researchers. I wanted to be just like him.”
“I think you’re very much like him.” She said quietly. “From everything I’ve read about him - he never gave up on something if he truly believed in it, he was fiercely loyal to those close to him, and he would do everything in his power to protect those he loves. I don’t think it was an accident that your biological parents named you after him.”
“They didn’t know what I was going to be like, though…”
She smiled lovingly at him. “Maybe they were hoping if they gave you his name, it would just…happen. You know?”
“Mum’s having another boy. I was kind of hoping for a girl. I think Dad would have loved a little girl.”
“I think your Dad doesn’t really care too much about gender.” Gemma paused for a moment, then continued. “But, I think he’d be really cute with a little girl. Have they named him?”
“Nah…but I like Rigby. Not sure Mum’s too keen on it though.”
Gemma chuckled, plucking a wildflower from the ground. “Rigby?”
“When I was little - back when I first went to live with Dad - he used to sing ‘Eleanor Rigby’ to me when I’d get upset or scared.” He smiled as he leaned back on his hands. “When I think back on it, it was a pretty weird song to sing to a four year old as a comfort thing, but…it worked.”
He glanced at her, tilting his head slightly when he saw that she was smiling at him. “What?”
“I love you, Elliott.” She whispered.
He smiled back at her, leaning over and kissing her softly. “I love you too, Gem.”
“Rigby Giles sounds really cool. Not very Watcher-like though.”
Elliott laughed and shifted closer to her. “Maybe not, but Marcus Giles…that’s a Watcher name. Marcus Edmund Giles, Watcher. That just sounds…right.”
When Elliott turned his eyes back to the courtyard and quietened, Gemma took hold of his hand. “What is it, Elliott?”
He shrugged a shoulder and sighed deeply. “I don’t know. I guess I always thought that I’d be the next Giles to become a Watcher…but, now there won’t be a new one for like…twenty years or something.”
He turned towards her, gently squeezing her hand. “Thank you for not letting me push you away. As hard as this is…it’s nice having you with me.”
“I will always be here with you, Elliott.”
He smiled sadly and slipped his arm around her. He closed his eyes as she rested her head against his shoulder.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Two Months Later…
“I think it’s growing on me.”
“Mm?” Giles mumbled sleepily behind her, his hand resting on her abdomen.
“Rigby. I think it’s growing on me.” She turned to face him, smiling as she watched him try to wake himself up further. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s probably nearly one in the morning and I had very hectic day.”
“Ooh…snippy Giles.” She teased softly.
He rolled his eyes and placed a soft kiss on the tip of her nose. “I’m not snippy. I’m tired. And as for Rigby, I wasn’t the one who needed convincing. I knew you’d get there on your own in the end.”
“You like it?”
He nodded and smiled. “I do. Odd, I know. But, I do. It reminds me of the beginning…my time with Elliott before you came to England.”
“Do you like Elias? I mean….as a middle name?” She asked, somewhat nervously.
“Rigby Elias Giles?” He thought for a moment and then rolled onto his back, whispering the name again as he stared up at the ceiling. “What made you think Elias?”
She exhaled softly and placed her head on his chest, listening to his heart as he wrapped his arm around her. “It started with an E. So, he’d have the same initials as you. And…it was the closest name I could find that was similar to Elliott…without it being obviously relating to Elliott. Well, one that I liked, anyway. I actually thought about Elliott…Rigby Elliott. But, I just can’t do that.”
“No, I wouldn’t be able to either. But, Elias is…it’s a very nice name.” He ran his hand down her back to her hip and smiled. “Did we just name our son?”
“Yeah, if you’re good with it.”
Giles chuckled softly. “I’m good with it, Buffy.”
“With only a month to go…” She laughed as she closed her eyes.
Giles listened as she fell asleep, smiling as he felt little Rigby kicking him through Buffy’s abdomen. His smile faded as he stared at the ceiling.
Elliott had taken a turn in the last couple of weeks. There had been a sudden decline. The biggest decline they had noticed since they had a scare when he was thirteen. But what had amazed him was the fact that….yes, even though there had been a shift, Elliott had continued to fight. Was continuing to fight.
He wasn’t giving up, even though it was very obvious that this was a war he wasn’t going to be able to win. He was winning battles though. And that was something to behold.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Three Weeks Later…
Elliott sat on the sofa, holding the newest Giles in his arms…his baby brother, Rigby Elias Giles. He smiled as Coral walked into the living room. She preferred to be called Coral - he learned that quickly when he had called her Dr Andreas on their first meeting. This was their third…his ‘end of life counselling’, it had been called.
“Hey, Coral.” He said softly, turning gently so she could see the baby. “Meet Rigby.”
Coral smiled, noticing the slight yellowing of Elliott’s eyes, but not mentioning it. “Well, now…that’s an interesting name.”
Elliott nodded, then gave her a quick rundown of the meaning behind his brother’s name. As Rigby began to fuss, turning his tiny head towards Elliott’s chest, Elliott laughed.
“Hey, Mum?” He called out, bending his finger and offering his knuckle to the baby. Rigby quickly latched on and Elliott nodded. “Rigby’s hungry…”
Buffy chuckled as she came into the living room. “Of course, he is. Hi, Coral.”
“Hi, Buffy. He’s beautiful.”
Buffy beamed as she carefully picked the baby up. “He looks like his father…more than Marcus, even.”
Coral looked around and narrowed her eyes. “It’s a bit quiet…where is Marcus?”
“He’s gone with Rupert. There was an issue at the office that he needed to help with…Marcus insisted on going in with him.” She reached out and gently stroked Elliott’s hair. “You need anything, Ellie?”
Elliott smiled at her and shook his head. “No, I’m good, Mum.”
She nodded and glanced at Coral. “Tea?”
“You take care of the little one…I’m more than capable of boiling a kettle.” She grinned.
She noticed Buffy’s gaze lingering on Elliott before she left the room. Clearing her throat, she met Elliott’s eyes.
“So…how are you feeling?”
Elliott laughed and shook his head. “Like I’m dying.”
Coral nodded, her smile softening as she reached out and took hold of Elliott’s hand when she noticed his eyes beginning to glisten.
“Marcus turns three in a little over a month. I want to be here for that.” He lowered his voice as a tear fell. “I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll make it. And Rigby will never remember me. Marcus might not either…not real memories, maybe.”
“You know you won’t be forgotten, Elliott.”
“I’m just going to miss so much.”
She tilted her head slightly and regarded him closely. “I get the feeling you’re not just talking about your family.”
He smiled sadly and looked down at his hands. “Gem, Jack, school, a career, following in Dad’s footsteps…I’m sixteen years old. I should be thinking about sneaking out of the house and going to parties with my friends, having sex with my girlfriend…or at least trying to have sex with her, worrying about whether I’ve passed an exam. Instead, I’m worried about not living to see my little brother turn three in a month. That’s fucked up.”
“Yeah…it really is, Elliott. Let’s talk it out.”
Elliott snorted and gestured towards the kitchen. “Might want to go make a tea first…this could take a while.”
Coral smiled in agreement.
* * *
Coral walked out of the house just as Giles helped Marcus out of the car. Giles turned towards her and smiled.
“Good afternoon, Coral.”
“Hi, Rupert.” She replied, grinning as Marcus waved at her while he ran up the steps. “Hi, Marcus!”
“Busy times…” She continued, walking down the steps to stand in front of him. “And Rigby is a delight.”
Giles smiled proudly. “Isn’t he, though? A week old and king of the house already.”
He nodded towards the house as he slipped his hands into his pockets. “How is he?”
“Scared, angry, frustrated…and still full of so much love and compassion. Elliott is amazing.”
“Yeah, he really is.” He cleared his throat. “I think his liver is failing.”
“I think you’re right.”
He lowered his eyes and exhaled a deep breath. “I think he doesn’t have much time left.”
“He knows that as well.” Coral replied softly, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “He’s concerned about you. All of you, of course. But, he’s mostly concerned about you.”
“I know. He always has been.”
“He needs to know that you’re going to be okay.”
He looked up slowly. “Am I? Going to be okay? I’ll survive, of course…but, am I going to be okay when my son dies?”
“I think you need to talk to him. And tell him exactly that. Don’t pretend you’re fine…because you’re not, Rupert. You shouldn’t be expected to be fine. Elliott knows you’re not fine - and that’s frustrating him.”
Giles was quiet for a moment and then swallowed thickly. “I’ll talk to him.”
“We should probably schedule a family session soon.”
Giles nodded, but said nothing. He knew what that meant…what could he possibly say to that?
* * *
Giles walked into the living room and smiled as he glanced at the television. “Always Doctor Who time, hm?”
Elliott grinned at him. “Absolutely. Want to watch with me?”
“Absolutely. Tea?”
“Sure.”
Giles paused and glanced down the hall. “Where’s your Mum?”
“Putting Rigby to sleep. Marcus is helping her.”
Giles chuckled. “Helping…interesting term, that.”
Elliott laughed brightly. “He tries…”
“That, he does.” Giles replied before walking into the kitchen.
* * *
Giles looked at Elliott when he hit the pause button on the remote. He wasn’t surprised to find Elliott looking at him intently.
“I’ve never seen you cry watching Doctor Who before, Dad.”
“Who doesn’t cry at this scene? She’s in a parallel universe and he’s hopelessly in love with her…and has no way to rescue her.”
“I’m really going to miss you, Dad.” Elliott whispered after a moment. “Thank you for being the best dad I could’ve ever hoped for.”
Giles stared at him for a split second before pulling him into his arms. He didn’t try to stop his tears, he didn’t try to pretend that his tears were about anything other than the pain of his oldest child being in his last stages of life.
“I’m not fine, Elliott.”
“No, you’re not.” He replied, curling his fingers in the back of Giles’ shirt. “But, you will survive…because that’s what you do.”
“I love you.” Giles whispered emotionally.
Buffy walked into the room carrying Marcus. She smiled sadly and turned, going towards the kitchen instead. Marcus looked up at her when she sat him down on the counter.
“Daddy sad?”
“Yeah, baby…Daddy’s sad. But, we’ll make him some tea…that always helps.”
“An’ cookies?”
Buffy grinned at him and playfully ruffled his hair. “Biscuits…you know Daddy calls them biscuits.”
Marcus giggled happily.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Five Weeks Later…
Gemma smiled as she sat down next to Elliott, who was laughing as he watched Marcus play with his friends.
“Told you you’d make it.”
Elliott turned towards her and nodded. “Yeah, you did. And I did.”
She noticed a flash of regret in his eyes. “What’s that about?”
“Huh?”
“What just went through your head? You’ve got some deep thoughts going on there.”
He hesitated for a moment and then shrugged a shoulder. “We’re sixteen and you’ve been my girlfriend for over three years.”
“Yeah…”
“It’s just…most couples who have been together this long…well, they would’ve gone to the next level. And we never got that chance.”
She smiled understandingly and wrapped her arm around his. “Are you really sitting here thinking about the fact that we haven’t slept together?”
“Yeah, I am. ‘Cause I’m sixteen and that’s what sixteen year old guys think about. Sex.”
“Well, we may not have done everything…but, we’ve had a decent share of ‘firsts’ with each other.”
He blushed lightly and then grinned at her.
* * *
Willow and Xander stood off to the side with Ethan, happily watching the kids play. Willow glanced over at Elliott and Gemma and smiled softly.
“I wonder what they’re talking about…”
“Sex.” Xander and Ethan replied simultaneously.
They grinned at each other and clinked the necks of their beer bottles together. Willow rolled her eyes.
“Seriously? You think they’re talking about sex…with everything that’s going on?”
Xander stared at her. “He’s sixteen.”
“Yeah, but - ”
Ethan shook his head, stopping her. “Look at the way they’re looking at each other. He’s not thinking about cancer right now. He’s thinking about her.”
Willow looked back over at them, her smile returning when Elliott leaned over and kissed Gemma.
“Yeah, okay…”
“What’s going on?” Giles asked as he joined the little group, Rigby in his arms.
“Not much. Just discussing the fact that pretty much all sixteen year old boys think about is sex.” Xander stated, ignoring Willow’s stare.
“Ah…” He handed Rigby to Willow and glanced over at Elliott. “I remember thinking about books…”
Xander rolled his eyes. “Of course you did.”
Ethan grinned. “What kind of books?”
“The Kama Sutra mainly.” Giles replied without hesitation. “I may have been in the Academy, but I was still a sixteen year old boy. I had a girl to impress…”
Willow stared at him, her skin reddening.
“And did you?” Xander asked, grinning brightly at him.
“Well, I didn’t disappoint her…” Giles answered with a wink.
“You do remember this is a birthday party for a three year old?” Willow said quietly, glancing pointedly towards the yard.
Ethan laughed. “Yeah and all of the three year olds are over there. We’re adults…we’re allowed.”
Willow rolled her eyes. “I’m going to find Buffy.”
Giles turned his eyes back to Elliott and offered him a gentle smile. Elliott smiled back as Gemma rested her head on his shoulder.
“How is he?” Ethan asked quietly.
“I think he’s at peace with the situation. He’s met his goals - meeting Rigby, Marcus’ birthday. What he has left now is extra.” Giles swallowed and looked at Xander and Ethan before continuing. “He’s more at peace with it than I am.”
Neither Ethan nor Xander knew what to say, so they said nothing. But, they didn’t leave Giles’ side.
For that, he was grateful.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Three and a half weeks after Marcus’ birthday, Elliott took his final breaths at home. For the most part, his passing was peaceful…and it was definitely full of love. His parents were on one side of his bed. His girlfriend and his best friend were on the other. His brothers were in bed, but he had been able to say goodbye to them before their bedtime.
Gemma held his hand and told him that she would always hold him in her heart. Jack promised that he’d always be there for Marcus and Rigby.
He had smiled at his parents and said that he hoped that they’d have one more baby. The house needed three children. Neither Buffy nor Giles held their tears from him. But, they both knew it was time to say goodbye.
Elliott smiled and his eyes focused on a point off to the side. “Hi, Daddy…”
Giles leaned down and kissed Elliott’s forehead, then moved his mouth next to Elliott’s ear. “Please tell Peter I love him. I love you both so much.”
Elliott looked up at his father and smiled. “We love you too, Dad.”
Within a few minutes, Elliott drifted off to sleep.
And a couple of hours later, he drifted away.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A little over year later, on what would have been Elliott’s eighteenth birthday, a small crowd was gathered in the hospital waiting room.
Gemma sat next to Jack, Rigby on Jack’s knee. Willow and Xander next to them, with their little girl in Xander’s arms. Ethan leaned against the wall, talking softly to Alan Naylor. Marcus leaned against the wall next to Ethan, hands in his pockets as he stared at the television.
They all looked towards the door when Giles walked in, a smile on his face.
“It’s a girl! They’re both fine…amazing really. And she’s beautiful, like Buffy.” He beamed at them all, then picked Rigby up and took hold of Marcus’ hand.
As he took them down the hall to meet their baby sister, Ethan pushed himself from the wall.
“Anyone want to wager on the name?”
As they chatted amongst themselves, no one noticed the soft shimmering over in the corner.
Elliott was okay with that.
~ End
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